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6 September 2010 Went to Switzerland again. This time Vevey for the third annual International Wealth Advisors Forum--wonderful group of colleagues. Just sorted out the next few months. Also had a client meeting in Dammam during Ramadan, my first time in Saudi during Ramadan--was actually a very nice time to be there. It's amazing to dedicate a 30-day period to family and reflection. I had hoped for an August like that, but somehow it all flew by. Still need to finish updating my International Estate Planning Guide (was down as an August project). Have a new article to post on the site: All in the Family.
24 July 2010 Got back from the great stops in Switzerland and Sweden, and came out to Minnesota the next day. Had a Pitcairn Board meeting so spent two days in Philadelphia. Back in Minnesota now. Catching up with a lot of projects. Back to DC on Wednesday for a client meeting, then back out to Minnesota.
5 July 2010: Had that trip to Riyadh and Dammam and all went very well. Then went to the coast of Maine for a few days of break, then to Quebec City in Canada (more break) and then to DC for a nice visit, including the first time I've seen the 4th of July celebration in our nation's capitol--was an all-day affair, ending with spectacular fireworks. Now I'm ready to go to Switzerland, arrive tomrrow: Zurich Lucerne Pilatus Geneva and a friend in Lund, Sweden. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer!
3 June 2010: Lovely to begin summer in Minnesota! Time outdoors and with family over Memorial Day weekend (hurried back from Barcelona to make it Friday night, and had to leave on Monday to get to spectacular Banff, Canada, to speak at a Family Office event). Getting caught up then back to DC on Sunday, meetings in NYC on Monday, back to DC for Tuesday meetings, and leave that night for one more trip to Riyadh before their holidays start at the end of June.
16 May 2010: Back in Riyadh! Was very strange to have the plane detour around ash clouds over Morocco, but did get here. And yes, it is getting hotter here. I think I'll have one more trip here next month and then take a break until Ramadan is over. Seems a long way from NYC where I was twice last week. I just looked on line and there have been 1009 visits to my website :-). My governance book should be available this week (finally) on amazon.com. I also met with an excellent Arabic translator here and may have that version printed for my next trip here. Continue to enjoy spending time with wonderful people here, so all is well. Next stop is Barcelona.
1 May 2010: This is my one-year anniversary of my LLC (Barbara R Hauser LLC) and working independently! Since I last wrote I had the interesting experience of feeling stranded in Switzerland while everyone watched the Icelandic volcano ash spread through the airways--but I was able to leave, in time to get to Las Vegas for the Annual Luxury Summit (the mood is optimistic as of first quarter 2010). Have started adding short update messages on LinkedIn.com, so you might check there also. (My website has had 939 visits!)
10 April 2010: Got back from Dubai on Tuesday. Had some good work days here in DC, then a filled day trip to NYC and finally a weekend to catch up with myself--and to go enjoy the lovely weather and walk over to the Jefferson Memorial surrounded by cherry blossoms. Wrote another chapter (for a Trusts book published in England) on my new ideas about integrating family governance into trust documents. Coming up is a 9-day trip to Switzerland. Will be great to see friends in Zurich again, then meetings in Lugano and in Vevey.
14 March 2010: Hard to believe but it's already time to head back to Riyadh (and Dammam and Bahrain)--in fact I leave tonight! Was good to have some time in DC and NYC (and Pittsburgh last week). Very exciting to find an article (in arabic) on one of the great evening sessions during the last trip (will try to add it to my publications page) and an article that was translated into arabic on the use of Junior Boards. Seems like a lot of writing lately--just turned in another article to STEP on the idea of a "two-tier" family constitution (ask me about it--and I'll know someone is reading this blog :-)
24 February 2010: The time in Riyadh went by so fast! I enjoyed the side trips to Jeddah and to Dammam, and had so many special evenings in Riyadh. It is a pleasure to keep talking about family governance with family members who are so interested in it. I got back to the U.S. last Sunday, then went to NYC for two days of meetings, then Philly for the Pitcairn Board, then out here to California to visit my sister for a few days.
3 February 2010: Well, here I am back in Riyadh! It is starting to feel like home. It is great to see Saudi and Western friends--they all make me feel very welcome. I do recommend the (Ladies Only) Luthan Spa & Hotel--with a great pool and spa services and even some "hotel" rooms (they know to give me the one closest to the wifi signal). Next week the Saudi Young Presidents Organization has invited me to give talks in Dammam and Jeddah, on Family Governance.
13 January 2010: Having a snowy weekend in Minnesota! Next week is DC one day then the rest of the week in Santa Barbara, California. My article on "2009: the Year that Bank Secrecy Died?" is out now, and will be added to my website soon. Out in the February issue of STEP will be one on supporting entrepreneurial ventures by the next generation. (Then another will be on the CFA website soon.) I've been invited to give a keynote in Curacao (accepted).
7 January 2010: That was a lovely, long holiday break! This week it has been back to work: a meeting with the Wharton Executive Education people (am hoping to teach a unit on family governance) and a large turn-out in New York yesterday for our Family Advisory Council meeting. This afternoon a preliminary meeting with the owners of a large private US business.
19 December 09: And now I'm in NYC--for a pre-holiday fun weekend, walking around, seeing shows, hearing music (Bagpipes tomorrow!), with a huge snow storm to arrive any minute. Sending out holiday wishes by email and just enjoying the season.
11 December 09: And now I'm back in our country home in southern Minnesota, with heaps of snow all over. Chicago was a terrific meeting, a real "gathering" of very committed and generous professionals, all working to do our best for family flourishing! No more "big" travels for a while now. Time to send everyone good wishes for the holidays and the New Year. (And a few more articles to write :-)
8 December 09: Well, well---back in the USA! The Campden conference was great, with a chance to visit with many new colleagues and catch up with some old ones. There was a lot of interest in family governance (I ran out of the books I had brought with me). Today I'm headed to Chicago (snow blizzard allowing) for the Collaboration for Family Flourishing, which is always a real pleasure. Our last gathering was in May, which seems so long ago (before I even started this website or blog or wrote my book on family governance).
4 December 09: Hard to believe but here I am back in the Gulf Region! Arrived in Abu Dhabi today for the Campden Family Office conference (will be speaking on Family Governance). This was just the 38th National Day for the UAE so those flags and decorations are still up, and they are busy installing Christmas trees and Santas. The hotel lobby even has an enormous gingerbread house.
30 November 09: Back "home" in D.C. We had a wonderful family time in our Minnesota home for Thanksgiving--a lot to be thankful for. One more trip this week, to be in Abu Dhabi on Sunday (then Chicago on the 8th then Minnesota on the 10th) to speak on family governance. Then a fun weekend in NYC and soon the whole month will be over and I will be planning my January travels.
24 November 09: Am in Tokyo, the last stop on this long trip. Had visits and meals with old friends from my many years of coming here. Saw the new "Mid-town" a real indoor shopping mall, very well done--with incredible outdoor blue and white Christmas lights. Ate perfect sushi. Found a huge amount of interest in my book! Now it looks like it will be published in Japanese, as well as Chinese and Arabic. Looking forward to being home on Thanksgiving, with visiting family members. Off to Narita in the morning.
21 November 09: Singapore was so busy! There were about 70 signed up for my STEP talk (might not have all come--as it was raining, and cabs in the rain are more scarce than in NYC) and it was a great group. I quickly ran out of books. There were several follow up meetings, and some amazing meals (including a 70th floor spot) and some very intriguing new ideas. It might be that I will be coming back in a few months--we'll see. Now, I've just arrived in Tokyo--the last stop.
19 November 09: Amazing, I am already in Singapore! The days in Hong Kong were so filled I never had time to add a posting. Highlights included time at the CFA Institute, my STEP talk (about 60 attended), an internal talk at Withers, meals with friends, colleagues and family.
12 November 09: The time has been flying by again--and I have just one day left in Dubai. The STEP talk yesterday was great to do--many interested advisors with a lot of good feedback. I hope to be back in Dubai more often. The local hospitality has been super also--heading out to a dinner now at the Palace.
6 November 09: Leaving Riyadh (another wonderful visit with such great people here) now for a "holiday" in Ras-Al-Khaimah. Will be speaking at a STEP Arabia event in Dubai on the 11th (on my new book, of course).
2 November 09: Came here to Montreux from Riyadh yesterday morning, to participate in a panel at a conference and visit with a few colleagues. Stunning views today (rainy yesterday). Dinner at a castle tonight (Castle de Chillon, nearly 1,000 years old). Very nice to be back in Switzerland, even briefly. Back to Riyadh tomorrow.
29 October 09: Settled back in Riyadh again. Yesterday I gave a talk to the Riyadh YPO (Young Presidents Organization) on Family Governance (and gave out copies of my new book) and in the evening attended an Archeology lecture (at the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre) on recent discoveries in Saudi, which was very interesting.
23 October 09: Whew. The D.C. lunch on Wed.(sponsored by Pitcairn) was super; so was the Thursday one in NYC (The Family Advisory Council); and today was a great Philadelphia day with the Pitcairn Board meeting and special events. Tomorrow I'm the lunch speaker on "Families, Happiness & A Good Life" then back to D.C. one night and then to Riyadh on Sunday night.
19 October 09: Paris was great. Today is Kansas (a bit of a change) and tomorrow is D.C. Wednesday in D.C. I will have the first "book party"--a lunch about my book. I now have real copies of it! (International Family Governance: A Guide for Families & Their Advisors (Avoiding Family Fights & Achieving World Peace))
15 October 09: Leaving Riyadh at midnight tonight--nonstop to Paris. On Saturday I give two talks to "Money Matters for Women": one on talking to children about money and one on international estate issues. Then it's back to the USA for a week of travel there. Had a great time here, meeting with wonderful families--and a new friend gave me a lovely abaya!
3 October 09: Settled in Riyadh, and great to be back here. The KSA economy looks quite good, the university building projects are enormous. Great to reconnect with friends and clients here, especially after the long break. Today seems to be the main "back to work" day after some extended breaks. Will be here until Octl 16th when I head back to Paris.
27 September 09: Quite a whirl (plus perfect sunny weather in Paris!). Paris economy seems "slow" but has been a wonderful chance to visit with many friends-starting with an incredible meal in the courtyard of the Louvre with Tour Eifel in the backgroun. Did go to Zurich yesterday to have dinner with other friends (city seems "very good" notwithstanding the IRS-UBS matter) back to Paris today.
22 September 09: Leaving today for nearly four weeks: Paris then Saudi then back to Paris (see www.moneymattersforwomen.org)--then back to the USA on Sunday Oct. 18 for a week (5 cities in 7 days!) then back to Saudi (Bahrain?) and RAK (Abu Dhabi?) and Hong Kong and Singapore and Tokyo. Back in the USA for Thanksgiving. Hoping to fit Zurich in somewhere.
21 September 09: Finished my annual update for my loose-leaf treatise International Estate Planning: A Reference Guide and sent it in. Added a new section on offshore bank accounts (and heard that the Sept. 23rd deadline did get extended to Oct. 15, for the USA amnesty program).
19 September 09: The book cover (and back cover endorsements) are fantastic! I took a mock cover to London and to NYC. Now I have the proof pages to check and then the whole book should be out on October 21. I'm already scheduled to speak on it in Hong Kong in November. Tuesday I leave for Paris and then Saudi and then back to Paris.
2 September 09: I sent the book to the printer!!
28 August 09: Okay-I have a live website now! www.brhauser.com. And, by the way, I got great comments back on the rewrite--hooray!! Tomorrow I do the final clean-up of the book (changing title to "International Family Governance" etc). Next week I will finish my annual update of International Estate Planning. Then to London/Cambridge and summer is over. Planning the travel through December....
23 August 09: Well the comments were quite nice--although I found I had a huge amount of work to do still. Worked hard each day, and late on Friday I wrote the ending and sent it out to some friends and colleagues (nothing back yet). I also went to Staples and printed out all 133 pages, to proofread and add some cites, maybe tomorrow.
13 Aug 09: Hours and hours learning how to design my website. About two hours just to get the right photo on!
Chose a host. Maybe by Monday??
12 Aug 09: What about Paris? (October 17--speaking at Money Matters for Women) and Rome/Bologna (people to see) and Zurich (my stored boxes there!)....
Still no comments back on my book draft (was it way too different?)
Treat for today: will see a real movie, first in years: Julie & Julia is playing in the countryside not too far away.
11 Aug 09: August sunny days--and here I am at my laptop trying to firgure out how to design my own website.
Thinking of three client families and their next projects....
Planning my trips for the Fall (London, Saudi, Montreux, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo and then Saudi again)
Waiting for the first comments on my book draft on Family Governance Globally--hope I don't have to change too much.
